The Unjust Criminal Justice System

    I was eight years old when I first heard Trayvon Martin’s name on the news. I heard echoes of the phrase “Justice for Trayvon” and I asked my father who was Trayvon and why people demanded justice for him. I was told he was a black teen walking to the store when he was profiled by a man who shot him. My father told me this happened because Trayvon’s skin was dark. This appalled my eight year old mind and I too wanted justice for Trayvon. 

    Trayvon’s name again appeared on the news when I was ten years old, only this time I learned Trayvon did not receive justice; instead, the man who murdered him would walk free. I not only felt scared, but betrayed. How could a man who murdered an unarmed teenager be innocent?

Two years later, I joined social media. I created an activism blog and I found myself using the hashtag “#BlackLivesMatter.” With more exposure to the media, I realized  stereotypical assumptions, such as those made by George Zimmerman, were not uncommon. As someone with aspirations of upholding justice as a defense attorney, I am propelled to address this issue in my future career. Through my own research, I have learned that implicit bias is one of the strongest pillars of systemic racism. Studies have shown that white people tend to have preconceived associations of black individuals and criminality. This manifests in our criminal justice system. Black men are about six times more likely to be incarcerated than white men. Black people are seven times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder than white people.